Effect of the lectin ArtinM on cellular immune response of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

• Grant number: 14/12516-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Heloisa Souza Lima Blotta
• Grantee: Maria Heloisa Souza Lima Blotta
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Brazil. The main clinical forms of PCM are the acute or juvenile form (JF) characterized by a Th2 immune response and chronic or adult form (AF), with a Th1 and Th17 profile. In spite of significant improvement in the antifungal therapy in last years, its efficacy is still limited due to long-term treatment, toxicity, side effects and relapses. In this context, it would be necessary to develop alternative treatments to complement the established antifungal therapy. The lectin ArtinM obtained from the seeds of Artocarpus heterophyllus has immunomodulatory activity against many intracellular pathogens including P. brasiliensis. Prophylactic and therapeutic administration of ArtinM in mice induces a Th1 immune response balanced by IL-10 that gives rise to a reduced fungal load in treated animals with a controlled inflammatory response. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of ArtinM in the lymphoproliferative response and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocytes and neutrophils of patients with PCM (JF and AF) and healthy donors. In addition we intend to investigate the effect of ArtinM on monocyte derived dendritic cells maturation and capacity to induce effector T cells. We believe that the results may contribute to a better understanding of PCM immunopathology and to identify new therapeutic strategies. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RUAS, LUCIANA P.; GENARO, LIVIA M.; JUSTO-JUNIOR, AMAURI S.; COSER, LILIAN O.; DE CASTRO, LIVIA F.; TRABASSO, PLINIO; MAMONI, RONEI L.; ROQUE-BARREIRA, MARIA-CRISTINA; BLOTTA, MARIA-HELOISA S. L.. Effect of ArtinM on Human Blood Cells During Infection With Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 9, MAY 4 2018. (14/12516-4, 13/24742-6, 14/06155-9)